Kavisurya Baladeva Ratha was an Odia poet and litterateur. He wrote in both Sanskrit and Odia. His works are known for devotional quotient. He is the credited founder of the Dhumpa Sangita.
Early life
He was born in Bada Khemundi ', Ganjam, Odisha. Baladeva Ratha's mother died when he was ten years old. He was brought up by his maternal grand father, Tripurari Hota in Athagada. He married at the age of 15. After his father's death, he moved to the nearby Jalantara state. The prince of Jalantara, Rama Chandra Chhotaraya encouraged his literary creations and gave him the titlekavi-surYya''', meaning 'The Sun among Poets.'
Literary works
Ratha was a musician and scholar. He composed poems as a Vaishnava, in devotion to Lord Vishnu. He was associated with a group of poets, which included Dinakrushna Dasa and Abhimanyu Samantasinghara. His best-known works include KavisurYya Granthavali, Kabisurya Geetabali and Kisora Chandrananda Chaupadi-Chautisa, which combines the two literary forms of chaupadi, and chautisa. Kishora Chandrananda Champu is noted for its emotional quotient and the role it played in enforcing the riti school of Sanskrit literature. He was also the author of several champus including Ratnakara Champu, Premodaya Champu and Kishora Chandrananda Champu. Kishora Chandrananda Champu has both Odia and Sanskrit compositions and it was the Odia part of the work that has been credited with cementing his literary reputation in the language.
Dhumpa sangita
Ratha is thought to have invented the dhumpa, a bamboopercussion instrument, that accompanies the Odia folk art form of dhumpa sangita. The dhumpa accompanies recitations of his poetic satires called dhumpa geeta. Many of his poetic pieces, especially the champu are set to dance in Odissi.
Ratha died in Athagada in the year 1845. Dasarathi Das' KavisurYya Baladeva Ratha is a biography that examines his life and contributions to Indian literature. Kavisuryanagar, formerly Boirani, a town in the Ganjam district of Odisha has been named in his honour.
